AS CalMac’s ferry plans took another body blow this week with talks over the provision of the catamaran Pentalina closing fruitless, the consequences for some island businesses look serious. It means the prospect of no dedicated summer season vessel for three years across a number of communities that count tourism as one of their main industries. A group of independent councillors on Uist and Bara said it was hoped the Pentalina move would plug the gap after the delay separately announced over the second of the two new CalMac ferries, Hull 802, which is due to serve the Uist/Harris to Skye route.
This week came further issues for the MV Lochnevis and MV Finlaggan, bringing more cancellations. Rob McKinnon, chief executive of Outer Hebrides Tourism, said while the return of the MV Loch Seaforth was welcome, the islands have been hit hard by regular under-provision and he has written a letter to Transport Minister Graeme Dey calling for action. He said: “With a month-long 20% reduction in capacity, the damage is not limited to the tourism sector, with empty supermarket shelves, chaos for hauliers and islanders being unable to travel. “CalMac have had no option but to prioritise island traffic and freight, meaning tourism is particularly badly hit with space for visitors reduced by 30-40%.”
HAULIERS in the Scottish islands are not surprisingly “through the roof” after ferry services were decimated amid a series of breakdowns. Tourism businesses getting ready for the reopening of the isles are concerned the Scottish Government’s plans for exiting the pandemic may also be curtailed. Four lifeline CalMac ferries have broken down in three weeks, freight has been disrupted and the redistribution of what’s left always leaves someone without. The fleet’s largest vessel, the eight-year-old MV Loch Seaforth, was due back on Monday but now it looks more likely to be some weeks away, with CalMac so far unable to source a temporary replacement.
Islanders anger turns to anguish amid Sturgeon silence heraldscotland.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from heraldscotland.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Islanders anger turns to anguish amid Sturgeon silence heraldscotland.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from heraldscotland.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.